Police arrested five individuals, identified as migrants, in connection with a violent Midtown beating of two police officers last week, and detectives are looking for three others connected to the attack, authorities said.
Shocking footage of the attack, which the NYPD released Wednesday, shows a group of young men battering a police officer and lieutenant at about 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 near the Candler Building, at 220 West 42nd St., during an arrest that swiftly grew out of hand.
According to police sources, the cops attempted to break up what they described as a disorderly group loitering. But after things turned violent, the cops wrestled with one man, trying to place him in cuffs.
That’s when the rest of the group piled in — unleashing kicks and punches upon the members of service just outside of the shelter. The cops were battered across their bodies and heads, and were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Officers were able to arrest four attackers, while the other perpetrators fled eastbound on West 42nd Street toward 7th Avenue, law enforcement sources said.
Police sources report that those arrested in the brawl are migrants hailing from shelters across the city, and also outside of it. The NYPD identified them as 19-year-old Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel with an address based in Mississippi; 19-year-old Kelvin Servita Arocha, who resides in Brooklyn; 24-year-old Yorman Reveron, also listed as residing in Brooklyn; and 21-year-old Wilson Juarez, who lives in Queens.
The four were charged with assault on a police officer, gang assault obstructing governmental administration, and disorderly conduct.
Two days later, 22-year-old Jhoan Boada, listed as homeless, was also cuffed for attempted assault on a police officer and gang assault, authorities said.
All five men were apparently released on their own recognizance, according to court records.
Two of those cuffed have prior criminal records stateside, sources familiar with the incident say.
Arocha was arrested on Jan. 9 for petit larceny while Yorman was previously taken into custody in November and December, each time for robbery, a source with immediate knowledge of the situation told amNewYork Metro.
“Attacks on police officers are becoming an epidemic, and the reason is the revolving door we’re seeing in cases like this one,” PBA President Patrick Hendry said, taking aim at the courts. “It is impossible for police officers to deal effectively with crime and disorder if the justice system can’t or won’t protect us while we do that work.”
Police have released images of the suspects still outstanding in hopes that they may be recognized, and help be brought to justice.
Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.